Pedersen offers heartfelt tale on Papa Noel

There have been lots of Louisiana takes on holiday classics and fairy tales but Leif Nedland Pedersen’s “Bayou Santa” offers a unique perspective.

The story centers on Noel Robicheaux, who loves living with his wife on a sleepy South Louisiana bayou. They plie their pirogue through the waterways admiring wildlife and scenery and by night Noel crafts small toys for the area children, little duck decoys in bright colors that he gives out at the Christmas fais-do-do. The bayou children adore the couple and before Christmas they all build bonfires to light the way for Santa’s arrival.

Santa Claus notices the love Noel gives to his toys and the neighborhood children. Since traveling through the swamps is difficult at best for Kris Kringle, he asks Noel for help. Noel agrees and helps Santa deliver toys in his pirogue with alligators leading the way.

It’s a heartfelt story with gorgeous illustrations by Mickey Asche of Mandeville. The sweet tale that emphasizes both the love spread at Christmas and the ties we have to the land is sure to become a Christmas favorite.

Pedersen is a New Orleans native who now divides his time between Slidell and Lake Charles, where he serves as senior vice-president of philanthropy at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Foundation. He is the author of the children’s book series, “The Adventures of the Swamp Kids.”

The book is available online at www.bayousanta.com, plus in the greater Lafayette area:

Prejean's Restaurant

Vermilionville

Acadian Village
Marketshops at the 115 [Breaux Bridge/Henderson]

Louisiana Book News is written by journalist Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and paranormal mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. The first books in her award-winning series are FREE as ebooks! For more information and to sign up for her newsletter visit www.cherieclaire.net.